Jamaica’s Andrew Holness Wins Historic Third Term as Prime Minister

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has secured a rare third term in office after his Labour Party edged past the opposition in Monday’s general election.

Preliminary results from the country’s Electoral Commission show the Labour Party winning 34 seats against the 29 seats secured by the People’s National Party (PNP). PNP leader Mark Golding has since conceded defeat.

Crime and the Economy at the Forefront

Holness, 53, campaigned on a pledge to cut Jamaica’s income tax rate from 25% to 15%, contrasting with Golding’s plan to raise the income tax threshold.

The incumbent also entered the polls buoyed by credit for a sharp fall in violent crime. Jamaica’s murder rate fell to its lowest level in 25 years in the first quarter of 2025. While critics pointed to the use of states of emergency in several regions as heavy-handed, many voters welcomed the improved sense of security.

The economy played a central role in the campaign. The Labour Party highlighted a record-low unemployment rate of 3.3% as a sign of progress, while the PNP accused the government of wasteful spending, citing the high cost of second-hand school buses.

Questions were also raised about Holness’s integrity following a report scrutinising his income and asset declarations, but he dismissed the claims as a political “distraction.”

Despite the historic outcome, voter turnout stood at just 39.5%. Observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) nonetheless praised Jamaicans for participating in a “calm and orderly” election that reflected “civic maturity and pride.”